article 10th Region Week 4 Review

The 10th didn't particularly distinguish itself last week, especially when facing 9th region competition. Last week's number one hangs on to the top spot, but by the slimmest of threads. I'm dutifully scratching my chin here as I ponder this week's rankings.

1. Campbell County (7-2, 2-0 region, 0-0 district). The Camels smoked Montgomery County by 33 and Holmes by 26 before falling at Beechwood by a single point in a game that this writer said last week would be a test. The loss to the Tigers was a nip-and-tuck affair that turned on a Reid Jolly charge late in the game. Jolly posted 24/9 and Drew Wilson added 22, with Tanner Lawrence chipping in 10. Coach Russell's charges try to get back on track against Oldham County on Thursday at LCA in the Central Bank Classic.

2. Clark County (8-2, 2-1 region, 1-0 district). The Cardinals played three games last week, winning all of them. The closest was a 5-point win at Ashland that saw sophomore Jared Wellman pour in 30 and take the top spot as the team's leading scorer; followed by a 78-25 pasting of the Estill County Engineers led by Brennan Canada's 16 first-quarter points. GRC's performance in the Lexington Catholic holiday tournament this coming week will help determine if Coach Cook's squad can crack the Commonwealth's top 20 again and/or wrestle the top spot in the 10th away from Campbell County.

3. Scott (6-5, 4-0 region, 0-0 district). Scott had a good showing in the Simon Kenton Invitational last week, chalking up wins over Sparkman (AL) and North Oldham (good for a third-place showing in the tourney) while falling to a very tough South Laurel team by 6 in the second round. Meister paced the Eagles with 28 in the loss with Chad Ohmer still nursing an injury. Scott doesn't hit the hardwood until Friday, January 4th in what should be an entertaining tilt with Highlands.

4. Bourbon County (6-5, 4-1 region, 1-1 district). The Colonels started the week by putting up 90 against Harrison County at home, then taking 2 of 3 in the Henry Clay Holiday Invitational, falling only to a very good Butler team from the 6th region. The Joyce brothers have added speed and depth to Coach Campbell's group, recording 17 PPG and nearly 6 RPG. Bourbon travels all the way to Pike County for a trio of games in Belfry's holiday tournament.

5. Pendleton County (9-4, 5-3 region, 3-0 district). Coach Belcher's Cats started out the week with a bang, as Mr. Basketball candidate Dontaie Allen scoring 52 against St. Henry (and becoming the school's all-time leading scored in the process); then following up with a personal-best 57 in a 12-point victory over Bryan Station. The next night was a completely story as 9th region powerhouse Cooper throttled the Wildcats 61 to 24. Allen finished with just 10 points - all in the first half - and didn't appear in the second half after tweaking a knee late in the second quarter. The outcome was never in doubt, though, as the Jags raced to a 34-13 halftime lead. The Cats will be featured in the Ashland Invitational tournament next week; and hopefully Allen's absence from the second half in the Cooper game was merely a precaution.

6. Bishop Brossart (6-5, 1-0 region, 0-0 district). The Mustangs went 1-2 in Grant County's tournament last week. Ethan Eilerman led the 'stangs with 17 in a loss to South Oldham. Just about everyone on the roster hit the stats column in a 72-21 thrashing of winless St. Patrick; and J.D. Schumacher and Eilerman reached double-figures in a close loss to Lloyd Memorial. Brossart travels to Henry County next week; meeting Garrard County and a pair of TBAs.

7. Montgomery County (4-5, 2-3 region, 1-1 district). Coach Daniel's Indians rebounded (see what I did there) from an early-week loss to Campbell County by defeating 16th-region squads Lewis County and Boyd County at Rowan County's Kentucky Bank Challenge. MoCo hosts the Gateway Holiday Classic next week; a three-day affair that also features mason County and Harrison County from the 10th.

8. Mason County (4-6, 3-2 region, 2-0 district). The Royals' modest three-game winning streak was snapped last week by Dixie Heights; a contest that saw the Royals outrebounded to the tune of 34-14. Lewis County then came to the Fieldhouse and won 79-72 in a game that saw the visiting Lions shoot 30 free throws to Mason's 7. First-year coach Brian Kirk's squad took out their frustration on visiting Augusta the next day with a 70-29 trouncing of the Panthers. Jaylen Lofton became the 25th member of the Royals' 1,000-point club in the win. Mason County plays 8-2 Frankfort in the opening round of the Gateway Holiday Classic.

9. Robertson County (9-3, 4-2 region, 1-1 district). The Black Devils went 4-0 last week with convincing wins over Calvary Christian, then manhandling the competition in the Berea all-A Holiday Classic. The competition will be much tougher at Lexington Catholic next week, as the Devils face Simon Kenton right off the bat.

10. Paris (3-9, 2-2 region, 1-2 district). The Hounds were 2-2 last week, including a 3-point win over Nicholas County on the road, and are idle until January 4th.

11. Calvary Christian (7-3, 3-1 region, 1-0 district). The Cougars sandwiched road wins over Dayton and Silver Grove around a loss the Robertson County in Mount Olivet (a game in which it was reported that leading scorer Mason Rusch had difficulty getting untracked). CC is also idle until January 4th.

12. Harrison County (2-7, 1-5 region, 1-2 district). The Breds notched just their second victory of the season last week, snapping an 8-game skid in the process. Gateway Holiday Classic appearance against West Carter is currently the only game on the week 5 schedule.

13. Bracken County (4-6, 2-4 region, 1-1 district). The Polar Bears took one of three last week, a road win at Bellevue.

14. Nicholas County (2-7, 1-5 region, 1-2 district). The Jackets got back on the winning track against winless Frankfort Christian after getting blitzed by Lewis County and edged by Paris earlier in the week. The Williamstown holiday tournament is next up.

15. Augusta (2-9, 2-4 region, 1-1 district). The Panthers defeated St. Patrick, then lost to Brayden Sebastian (57 points) and Garrard County; then were blitzed by Mason County. A couple of games in Ripley (OH) this coming week.

16. Silver Grove (3-7, 0-1 region, 0-1 district). A bad loss to Heritage Academy and an expected rout at the hands of Calvary Christian prevented the Trains from inching up in the rankings. Macke averages 30.7 and 13.6. Idle until January 5th.

17. St. Patrick (0-13, 0-4, 0-2). The Saints took it on the chin five times last week and are being outscored by 30 points per game. St. Pat hosts Fairview on Friday.

Excellent work, Methuselah C.

MRI and Xrays on Dontaie Allen's knee came back negative for any severe injuries.

How do you rank 10th Region with 9 teams with losing records, #3-6 with 4 or 5 losses each after barely a month into the season, and top 2 preseason powers having multiple losses????? Mcpapa, you did it with a lot of chin scratching, and you did it well. Magnifico!

@mcpapa Thank You @mcpapa

Thanks Papa great review.